Mandevilla plant named &#39;INMANWHIMP&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Mandevilla  plant named ‘INMANWHIMP’, characterized by its relatively compact broadly upright plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; relatively small glossy dark green-colored leaves; early and freely flowering habit; and pure white-colored flowers.

Botanical designation: Mandevilla sanderi.

Cultivar denomination: ‘INMANWHIMP’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofMandevilla plant, botanically known as Mandevilla sanderi andhereinafter referred to by the name INMANWHIMP'.

The new Mandevilla plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Johannesburg, South Africa and Heidesheim,Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compactand freely branching Mandevilla plants that flower early and freely andhave unique and attractive flowers.

The new Mandevilla plant originated from a cross-pollination conductedby the Inventor in Johannesburg, South Africa in November, 2010 of aproprietary selection of Mandevilla sanderi identified as code numberD09-1068-1, not patented, as the female, or seed parent with aproprietary selection of Mandevilla sanderi identified as code numberD09-1069-7, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The newMandevilla plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a singleflowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollinationin a controlled greenhouse environment in Heidesheim, Germany during theearly summer of 2012.

Asexual reproduction of the new Mandevilla plant by cuttings in acontrolled greenhouse environment in Heidesheim, Germany, since June,2012 has shown that the unique features of this new Mandevilla plant arestable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Mandevilla have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘INMANWHIMP’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘INMANWHIMP’ as a new and distinct Mandevillaplant:

-   -   1. Relatively compact broadly upright plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit.    -   4. Relatively small glossy dark green-colored leaves.    -   5. Early and freely flowering habit.    -   6. Pure white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the femaleparent selection. Plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily fromplants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Mandevilla are more compact than plants of        the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Mandevilla are more freely branching than        plants of the female parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Mandevilla have smaller leaves than plants        of the female parent selection.    -   4. Plants of the new Mandevilla flower earlier than plants of        the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the maleparent selection. Plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily fromplants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Mandevilla are more compact than plants of        the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Mandevilla are more freely branching than        plants of the male parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Mandevilla flower earlier than plants of        the male parent selection.    -   4. Plants of the new Mandevilla and the male parent selection        differ in flower form as flowers of plants of the male parent        are cup-shaped.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of Mandevillasanderi ‘Rio White’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conductedin Heidesheim, Germany, plants of the new Mandevilla differed primarilyfrom plants ‘Rio White’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Mandevilla were more compact than plants of        ‘Rio White’.    -   2. Plants of the new Mandevilla had smaller leaves than plants        of ‘Rio White’.    -   3. Plants of the new Mandevilla flowered earlier than plants of        ‘Rio White’.    -   4. Flowers of plants of the new Mandevilla and ‘Rio White’        differed in flower color as flowers of plants of ‘Rio White’        were tinged with pink.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can also be compared to plants ofMandevilla sanderi ‘Bella White’, not patented. In side-by-sidecomparisons conducted in Heidesheim, Germany, plants of the newMandevilla differed primarily from plants ‘Bella White’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Mandevilla were more freely branching than        plants of ‘Bella White’.    -   2. Plants of the new Mandevilla had slightly longer and darker        green-colored leaves than plants of ‘Bella White’.    -   3. Plants of the new Mandevilla were more tolerant to low        temperatures than plants of ‘Bella White’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Mandevilla plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe actual colors of the new Mandevilla plant. The photograph on thefirst sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical floweringplant of ‘INMANWHIMP’ grown in a container. The photograph on the secondsheet is a close-up view of a typical flower of ‘INMANWHIMP’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the late spring and early summerin 9.5-cm containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Almeria,Spain and under cultural practices typical of Mandevilla commercialproduction. During the production of the plants, day temperatures rangedfrom 20° C. to 35° C. and night temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 25°C. Plants were 15 weeks old when the photographs and description weretaken. In the following description, color references are made to TheRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except wheregeneral terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Mandevilla sanderi INMANWHIMP'.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Mandevilla            sanderi identified as code number D09-1068-1.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Mandevilla            sanderi identified as code number D09-1069-7.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About three weeks at            temperatures ranging from 20° C. to 35° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About three weeks at            temperatures ranging from 20° C. to 25° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 25 to 30            days at temperatures ranging from 20° C. to 35° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 25 to 30            days at temperatures ranging from 20° C. to 25° C.        -   Root description.—Thick, fleshy; typically white in color,            actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate            composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate            temperature and physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Low branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Relatively compact broadly upright            plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 22 cm.        -   Plant diameter (spread).—About 21.7 cm.        -   Lateral branch description.—Branching habit: Freely            branching habit with about four lateral branches developing            per plant; pinching enhances lateral branch development.            Length: About 14.1 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm. Internode            length: About 2.2 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture and luster:            Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy. Color: Close to between            143C and 144A.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.        -   Length.—About 7 cm.        -   Width.—About 3.3 cm.        -   Shape.—Narrowly obovate to narrowly oblong or narrowly            ovate.        -   Apex.—Short apiculate.        -   Base.—Rounded.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth,            glabrous; glossy.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 143A to            143B. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 144A. Full            expanded leaves, upper surface: Darker than between N137A            and 139A; venation, close to 143B. Fully expanded leaves,            lower surface: Close to 146B; venation, close to 145A.        -   Petiole length.—About 1.2 cm.        -   Petiole diameter.—About 2 mm.        -   Petiole texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Petiole color, upper and lower surfaces.—Close to 144B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single salverform flowers            arranged in axillary cymes; flowers star-shaped and face            mostly outwardly to upright; freely flowering habit with            about six flowers developing per inflorescence and about 50            flowers developing per plant during the flowering season.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously from            early summer into the autumn in Spain.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About seven days; flowers not            persistent.        -   Fragrance.—Faint; acidic-sweet and pleasant.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 14.7 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 13.3 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 6.2 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm.            Shape: Oblanceolate to narrowly oblanceolate. Color: Close            to 149D; towards the base, close to 145B.        -   Flowers.—Appearance: Flared trumpet, corolla fused and            five-parted. Diameter: About 9.2 cm. Depth (length): About            8.4 cm.        -   Corolla.—Quantity and arrangement: Five petals arranged in a            single whorl; lower portion of the petals are fused into a            tube. Petal length: About 10.1 cm; fused portion, about            5.5 cm. Petal width: About 4.1 cm. Petal shape and            appearance: Roughly spatulate. Petal apex: Non-symmetrically            acute. Petal margin: Entire; irregularly undulate. Petal            texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;            moderately velvety; matte. Petal texture and luster, lower            surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Throat and tube            texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Petal, when opening, upper            surface: Close to NN155A to NN155B; towards the throat,            close to 145D; throat, close to between 12A and 13B; at the            base of the throat, close to 144D. Petal, when opening,            lower surface: Close to NN155C; tube, close to between 149D            and 150D; at the base of the tube, close to 144C. Petal,            fully opened, upper surface: Close to NN155D; throat, close            to 14B; at the base of the throat, close to N144B; color            does not change with development. Petal, fully opened, lower            surface: Close to NN155D; tube, close to 157D; at the base            of the tube, close to N144D.        -   Corona.—Quantity and arrangement: Five sepals arranged in a            single whorl. Sepal length: About 7 mm. Sepal width: About            2 mm. Sepal shape: Lanceolate. Sepal apex: Narrowly            acuminate. Sepal base: Roughly truncate. Sepal margin:            Entire. Sepal texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous; matte. Sepal color: Immature, upper and            lower surfaces: Close to 145B. Mature, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 145A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 6.7 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Aspect: About 25° from lateral            branch axis. Strength: Strong. Color: Close to 144B to 144C.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture:            Smooth, glabrous. Aspect: About 20° from peduncle axis.            Strength: Strong. Color: Close to 144B to 144C.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity and arrangement:            Typically five; basifixed; anthers connivent. Filament            length: About 1 mm. Anther shape: Narrowly oblong. Anther            length: About 9 mm. Anther color: Close to 160B. Pollen            amount: None observed. Pistils: Quantity: Typically one.            Pistil length: About 2.5 cm. Style length: About 2.2 cm.            Style color: Close to 150C to 150D. Stigma shape: Sagittate.            Stigma color: Close to 145A. Ovary color: Close to 144A.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production have not been            observed on plants of the new Mandevilla.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Mandevilla have not    been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Mandevilla plants.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Mandevilla have been    observed to tolerate high temperatures of about 40° C. and to be    hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 9.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Mandevilla plant named ‘INMANWHIMP’as illustrated and described.